Uncertainties of calculated coincidence-summing correction factors in gamma-ray spectrometry

TL;DR

This paper develops a method to propagate uncertainties in gamma-ray spectrometry correction factors, applying it to analyze the uncertainties in measurements of a $^{134}$Cs source with a high-purity germanium detector.

Contribution

It introduces a formalized approach for uncertainty propagation in coincidence-summing correction factors, considering covariances of nuclear data and detection efficiencies.

Findings

Uncertainty propagation method formulated for gamma-ray spectrometry

Applied to $^{134}$Cs source with HPGe detector

Quantified the uncertainties in coincidence-summing correction factors

Abstract

Uncertainty propagation to the $\gamma$-$\gamma$ coincidence-summing correction factor from the covariances of the nuclear data and detection efficiencies have been formulated. The method was applied in the uncertainty analysis of the coincidence-summing correction factors in the $\gamma$-ray spectrometry of the $^{134}$Cs point source using a p-type coaxial HPGe detector.